BSA 3 wheeler rebuild carried over from introduction section

Here is  the short video clip of it driving I hope?  www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeglGeKxWvY&feature=youtube.be

I don't normally watch videos but I made the effort and it looks great, well done!

What I've found ( with much smaller companies, but its probably the same with big ones) that there are 2 kinds of people running businesses.


Those who have the ability to do so.

And those that run businesses because they cant be employed any other way...

Derek -Is this one similar to yours or a different model (looks like a different engine)

Not that you need another - its for sale at auction next month


mathewsons.co.uk/auctions/auction-dates/vehicles/15948-1936-bsa-tw36-2

So into the workshops of 'Grumpy Towers' it enters 





With an instruction to complete the bodywork & paint it 





Its largely on its original ash frame & panels 








Its comes with a set of pattern / reproduction front wings - which don't fit and require a fair bit of modification



Derek has supplied me with a load of info / photos / drawings etc along with a box of smaller bits 



Boot lid has already seen some work but requires completing 



The cars were built to budget price when new - tolerances to panel fit & aperture gapping were not particularly high up on the agenda if on the agenda at all in those days 



So it needs some straightening up & work prior to paint - it needs to look right but does not justify rebodying or new panels to be made up etc - it just needs to look straight & presentable - here we go then 
 

Beautiful

First job is sort the fit on the doors which for various reasons isn't that good - the frames have spread over time - the panels have seen a life etc 



The doors are largely oversize & miss fitting in several areas 



To do anything with them I have to remove the skin from the frame which is retained with brass pin nails 



With the skin carefully removed I could make the alterations to the ash frame 



Some trimming with the jigsaw then some finishing with a small block plane sorted the frame 



Then some reshaping of the door skin to fit the frame 



Then with the skin tacked to the frame I could refit the door 



Still some way to go yet but its much better 



Gap between the B post & the door is overwide at the bottom 



But by shimming the T section off the vertical face of the door it gets hidden - The T section is factory original - I will need to plane a section of hardwood down to make a permanent shim / packing piece


 
Next was to sort a door buffer to set / retain door alignment with the B post / rear wing section 



Its all first fix at this stage - I need to check with Derek that the door buffer / bracket is not going to foul the upright / backrest of the seat 



But its brought the vertical alignment for the rear of the door into check 



Just have to hope that the seat clears it 



The front vertical door gapping is also masked by a T section but this will be a little more tricky to correct - I will probably have to pack the top radius on the bulkhead - The only T section available close to the original size is slightly too wide and as the door travels through the hinge centre it currently catches the T section itself - I'm also going to have to ensure that the T section does not foul the windscreen frame support that bolts through the top of the A post in very close proximity to the section its self - fun & games then 

Has I thought my lash up of the door stop isn't going to cut it - Dereck contacted me to advise the seats are very tight fit and nothing can protrude into the cockpit space - he advised on few ideas of rebating the stop into the B post 



Undertook some looking & measuring 



It would require cutting into the panel and then rebating the wooden B post - B post would more than likely require reinforcing from the rear as its not that strong to start with and with the panel cut into it leaves the possibility of the alloy panel cracking from the corners - don't want find excuses not to fit the stops but if they are rebated in they would be painful to adjust should it ever be required and being a lightweight ash frame / alloy skinned body its likely to flex a little 



I mocked up an alternative that wouldn't require the B post being rebated and that could be adjusted if required 



It does the job but I will check with Derek to ensure he's ok with it - to move the door outwards its just a matter of using a thicker shimming rubber 



I have placed some temporary shimming rubbers (0.75mm thick) on the T section and also made up the ash packing / shim to offset the bottom of the T section from the door - this now allows the section to rest on the rear panel / B panel rather than the gap that was there originally 



With a little fettling work on the rear wing adjacent to the B post the door closure to the wing is a really nice fit - I need to be careful and allow for paint clearance when the door opens / closes otherwise if its too tight the door / T section will contact / damage the paint on the rear wing where it overlaps 



But adjustment can be made by shimming the door latch & door stop accordingly 



Front aperture edge of the door then 

 

Again this is covered by a T section and was the case when the cars were new 



This also needs some thinking about - place the T section too tight to the door and once the car is painted the paint will get damaged every time you open or close the door - the door edge also needs clearance as it travels through the hinge centres 



Trimmed in and fitted the centre section - I have a 3mm clearance on the door which will get reduced once the door is skimmed, primed & painted - the door side of the T section could always take a thin seal to close the gap between the rear of the T section & the door skin - front edge to the bulkhead will require a 2mm alloy packing to close the gapping 



Awkward bit will be forming the T section to the bulkhead radius - I will have to anneal the section prior to shaping it but that's a job for tomorrow 



In the interim the nearside door is off 



And the door skin removed from the frame in advance of the reworking of the  frame / skin 

Some running about to do tomorrow morning but should be back to get some bits done in the afternoon 

As always Chris , your attention to detail at this stage is going to make for a stunning finished job!